FR: Draw a link out of the node and propose suitable nodes to connect this link to

eight

In Unreal Engine's graphical editor one could start drawing a link out of the port of a node, release the mouse and get a popup menu with the choice of suitable nodes –– the ones that can semantically connect to a starting node's port.

This is very convenient and intuitive.

Why not to offer this in Isadora?

Juriaan

@eight

I hear what you are saying; but in certain instances this can become a really long list. So my question to you then, is how do we make this searchable and not overwhelming to the user?

I do agree that for particular types this would really show the possibilities that you can do with that particular type of data.

dbini

@eight
I would imagine that this could become problematic with the introduction of Macros and User Actors

Woland

@juriaan said:

in certain instances this can become a really long list.

I'd argue that in most instances it would be an extremely long and unwieldy list. Anything with vid-gpu, integer, float, trigger, etc would result in nearly every actor in the program being part of the list offered. Only things with niche data types like skeleton and color (though this is just an integer anyway) would result in a small list in the given scenario.

jpg.wav

Maybe the list could be limited to the 'Favorites' category, that way each user could define for themselves which actors they want to appear in this list. Then to pare it down further you could limit the list to showing compatible data types for that link.

eight

@woland said:

in certain instances this can become a really long list.

Not longer than a list of all items, which appears on double click. What do we do in that case? We use the the search input to filter those items we like. Same is applicable here.

Woland

@eight

If you’re going to filter by searching for what you want anyway, why add a feature that’s nearly identical in purpose and behavior to an existing feature and wouldn’t have any significant impact in terms of time saved or convenience?

eight

@woland The reason for this is two fold:

1. To save two clicks (useful when creating a patch in real time during rehearsals)

2. To suggest the shorter list of available items –– useful for seasoned isadorians and people who only start learning it.

As I wrote before, coming from Unreal Engine to Isadora, the absence of this functionality feels like Isadora's shortcoming.